§ 363 — Search of travellers and baggage

363.—(1) This section applies to a person (called in this section a traveller) —(a)

who is landing, is about to land, or has recently landed, from any vessel or aircraft;

(b)

who is leaving any vessel or aircraft in Singapore (whether to land or for any other purpose); or

(c)

who is entering or has recently entered Singapore by land, sea or air.

(2) A customs officer (not being a senior customs officer) may demand that —(a)

the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched by the officer for any seizable goods; or

(b)

the traveller —(i)

goes, together with the traveller’s goods, to a police station or an examination station; and

(ii)

permits his or her person and goods to be searched there, in the presence and under the supervision of a senior customs officer, for seizable goods.

(3) A senior customs officer may demand that —(a)

the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched by the officer for any seizable goods; or

(b)

the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched, in the presence and under the supervision of the officer, for any seizable goods.

(4) A woman must not be searched under this section except by a woman and with strict regard to decency.

(5) If a traveller requests to be present when his or her goods are searched, the goods may not be searched unless —(a)

the traveller is present; or

(b)

the traveller is absent despite being given a reasonable facility to be present.

(6) A traveller who refuses to comply with a demand under this section may be arrested without warrant by the officer making the demand.

(7) In this section, “goods” includes baggage.

—(1) This section applies to a person (called in this section a traveller) —(a)

who is landing, is about to land, or has recently landed, from any vessel or aircraft;

(b)

who is leaving any vessel or aircraft in Singapore (whether to land or for any other purpose); or

(c)

who is entering or has recently entered Singapore by land, sea or air.

(2) A customs officer (not being a senior customs officer) may demand that —(a)

the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched by the officer for any seizable goods; or

(b)

the traveller —(i)

goes, together with the traveller’s goods, to a police station or an examination station; and

(ii)

permits his or her person and goods to be searched there, in the presence and under the supervision of a senior customs officer, for seizable goods.

(3) A senior customs officer may demand that —(a)

the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched by the officer for any seizable goods; or

(b)

the traveller permits his or her person and goods to be searched, in the presence and under the supervision of the officer, for any seizable goods.

(4) A woman must not be searched under this section except by a woman and with strict regard to decency.

(5) If a traveller requests to be present when his or her goods are searched, the goods may not be searched unless —(a)

the traveller is present; or

(b)

the traveller is absent despite being given a reasonable facility to be present.

(6) A traveller who refuses to comply with a demand under this section may be arrested without warrant by the officer making the demand.

(7) In this section, “goods” includes baggage.